Fowl suspension apparatus



Jul 8, 1947. 1.. JASPER 2,423,560

' FOWL SUSPENSION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. L E/VUS JASPER I Arr-02mm.

Patented July 8, 1947 FOWL SUSPENSION APPARATUS Lenus Jasper, Orland, Calif., assignor to Seth S. Barker, Ottumwa, Iowa Application November 13, 1940, Serial No. 365,439

Claims.

My invention relates to the plucking of fowl, and more particularly to apparatus for accomplishing such result.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide novel and improved apparatus for suspending fowl in a plucking operation;

(2) To provide novel and improved apparatus for the plucking of fowl, which shall be fast and economical in operation; and

(3) To provide novel and improved apparatus for suspending fowl, which shall be adaptable to the handling of birds of various sizes.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is an elevational View of a fowl suspension frame;

Figure 2 is a view in section through the means for supporting the frame of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in section of the same supporting means taken at right angles to that of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, showing the means by which the fowl suspension frame of Figures 2 and 3 can be rotated;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a view illustrating a wing clamp carried on the fowl frame of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the head grip also carried on the fowl frame of Figure 1;'and

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a locking means for the fowl frame of Figure 1.

My invention relates to a suspension means for use in a process in which the removal of feathers from fowl is accomplished by subjecting the bird to a sustained flow of fluid, preferably water, at high velocity sufiicient to effect removal of the feathers therefrom. The invention, preferably, involves some preliminary step to facilitate the removal of the feathers in this manner. For example, in preparation for the removal of the feathers, I prefer to treat the bird in a manner to relax and soften the feather follicles, and this may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as exposing the bird to a bath of hot water, though I prefer to utilize the same apparatus which directs the high velocity fluid against the body of the bird to effect removal of the feathers, and thereby effect economies in both time and cost. In using this apparatus to performthis preliminary step, I direct against the bird a stream of liquid, such as water, at high temperature but at a reduced pressure, and continue the same for a brief period of time sufficient to accomplish the desired relaxing and softening of the feather follicles. The apparatus is arranged so that both the preliminary step and the final step of removing the feathers are accomplished most efilciently in sequentially timed operations. Practically all the feathers may thus be removed, except for possibly some of the more strongly embedded tail and wing feathers which may subsequently and convenient- 1y be plucked by hand.

The frame for suspending the fowl in such a plucking process is indicated at 25 and is designed to follow the general contour of a bird 2! with its wings outstretched. The frame includes an upper, substantially rectangular section 29, a lower section 3| of V-shape, and oppositely directed intermediate wing sections 33. The upper, substantially rectangular portion includes a pair of horizontally disposed bars anchored to a suspension cylinder 31 adjacent a closed end thereof. The vertical sections 39 of this rectangular portion are hinged at the extremities of the horizontal bars 35 and joined to the wing portions 33 of the frame.

The V-shaped portion 3| terminates at its apex in a vertically disposed tube 4|. One side of the V-shaped portion is split, enabling both sides of the frame to swing on their respective hinges, and spreading of the frame, in the absence of any restraining force, is assured by spreading means disposed in each of the corners of the rectangular portion of the frame. Each of such spreading means comprises a compression spring 43 disposed about a rod 45 Which is hinged to the vertical side member 39 of the rectangular section, and passes through a lug 41 depending from the adjacent horizontal bar 35. The frame may be retained against such spreading, when in use, by means of a locking tube 39 disposed about one end of the split portion, and having a longitudinal slot therein to receive a guide pin 53.

Telescopically disposed about th suspension cylinder 31, is another cylinder to which are attached a pair of leg clamps 51. Each of such leg clamps includes a strip 59 of metal pivotally secured at the upper portion of its supporting cylinder. This strip is bent at an intermediate point, to provide an angularly disposed section BI and an adjoining end section 63. The first section 6| is provided with a slot adjacent, the bend, while the end section is formed with a notch 61 in one edge thereof of a siz sufficient to conveniently receive the leg of a fowl, and yet small the clamp elements are in a condition of stable equilibrium.

The telescopic arrangement of the two cylinders 3'! and 55 permits of adjusting the position of the leg clamps with respect to the lower portion of the fowl frame. Such adjustment is realized by providing the suspension cylinder 37 with a longitudinal slot II, and backing the sam up with a heavy strip I3 of metal having a corresponding slot in alignment therewith, together with lateral notches ="I'I extending therefrom. Th clam-p supporting cylinder 55 is perforated adjacentits upper edge to receive a spring biased pin 79 terminating at its inside end, in a button B l. This pin extends through the slots H and '15, and the button Bl is adapted to enter any one of the plurality of lateral notches TI which have .been formed in th backing strip .13. The positioning of the button in any of these lateral notches will determine the elevational position of the leg clamps.

:In each of the wing portions of the frame, there is disposed .a wing clamp 83. This comprises a'pair of cooperating jaws 85 and 81, each of which is preferably rubber-lined, the jaws being pivotally connected asymmetrical with reference to the bisector of the .jaw angle by a rivet '83. One of these jaw members 81 is formed with an integral handl member 9| which extends through a supporting bearing 93 mounted at the extremity of the wing section, and which constitutes the support for the wing clamp. The other jaw member has pivotally secured thereto, a handle :member '95 which is provided with an offset 97 in the direction of the other handle member 9|. A link v$9 connects this offset with the extremity of an adjusting screw I'BI, such adjusting screw passing through a lateral lug I03 formed on the handle member 9L A spring I015 connecting between'the jaw member 85 and the handle member :91, tends to bias "the two jaw members to open position. The dimensions of the respective parts and their specific arrangement are such as to bring about a toggle action in the operation of the clamp, so that the jaw members may be clamped in closed position or sprung .to open position merely by closing or spreading the handle components. The link 99 is provided with lug or stop IN to determine the limit of throw of the handle member 95in the closing direction.

A spring I89 extending about the protruding end of the handle member 9| and in compression against a blocking nut I II, tends to pull the wing "clamp '83 toward the extremity of the wing portion of the frame.

'In the tube III at the apex of the V-section of the frame, there is disposed a spring H3 anchored to an adjustable block H5 in the lower portion of the tube. The upper end of the spring connects to a spool ;I I? under tension. The spool spans the upper end of the tube and carries a hook :Ii'9. This mechanism constitutes a head 4 grip for engaging the head of a fowl when a fowl is suspended in the frame.

The fowl frame is adapted to be pivotally suspended from special links 2I incorporated in a conveyor chain travelling past a point where the plucking process is to take place. Such suspension means is best disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. It includes a plurality of studs I2I disposed about the periphery of the closed end of the suspension cylinder 31. Each of the studs has a roller I23 disposed about it, and these are held in position by a circular disk or plate carried by the studs. A pivot pin I21 connects this disk at its center to the lug 23 forming 'a part of the special carrying link 2| previously mentioned. About this pin there is positioneda bearing 129 which has integrally extending therefrom in an upward direction, a bracket I-3I for receiving a track roller I33. This roller is adapted to engage and ride upon a track I 9 supported above the conveyor chain.

In suspending a fowl in the frame, the legs are first positioned in the leg clamps, and this is very readily accomplished with my improved clamping device, merely by lifting up on the clamp forming members, which causes the straight strip element 35 to partially withdraw through the slot 65 and expose the notch 67 in the edge of the end section, whereupon the leg of the bird might slipped into position and locked therein, merely by permitting the weight of the bird to restore the clamp elements to their initial state of equilibrium.

The head of the bird may be fixed against swinging or other movement, by engaging the hook Its in the lower mandible of the bird, against the tensioning effect of the spring H3. One of the wings may then be gripped by one of the wing clamps 83, and similarly the second wing may be gripped by the other wing clamp, the springs Hi9 associated with these clamps ending to tension the wings and hold them in outstretched position.

During the travel of the fowl frame around the conveyor with a bird suspended therein, the bird is exposed to, first, the preliminary treatment for relaxing and softening the feather follicles, and

secondly, to the feather removal treatment. For the purpose of applying fluid to the fowl both for the preliminary treatment and the plucking treatment, pipes I49 are provided. The pipes I49 are shaped to follow'generally the contour of the rame 25 and of the fowl, and are provided with nozzles l5} for directing fluid onto the fowl. Convenient means is provided for supplying the fluid of the temperatures and under the pressures desired in the proper sequence.

It is of course desired that the fowl be subjected on all sides to the treatments above referred to, and for this purpose I provide ameans for turning the frame 25 as it passes by the treatment station. A rack I8! is supported along the line'of travel of the frame 25 at the point of treatment, andso positioned as to engage the rollers I23 on the fowl frame and cause a slow turning movement of the frame.

It will thus be apparent from the above description of my invention, that the objects as set forth by me are fully realized. While I have disclosed my invention in great detail, it will be apparent that the same may be subject to modification and alteration, Without departing from the spirit thereof, and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited in my protection to the details disclosed and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Fowl suspension means comprising a hanging support, an angularly formed strip hingedly secured to said support and including an end portion having a notch extending into a side edge thereof, said notch being of a size to receive at least one leg of a fowl, and a second strip hingedly secured to said support below the first strip and slidably engaging said first strip at the junction of said end portion with the-remainder of said first strip, said second strip having a length sufficient to extend across the notch in said end portion when the strips are in one position of their movement on their hinges.

2. Fowl suspension means comprising a hanging support, an angularly formed strip hingedly secured to said support and including an end portion having a notch extending into a side edge thereof, said notch being of a size to receive at least one leg of a fowl, and a second strip hingedly secured to said support below the first strip and slidably extending through said first strip at the junction of said end portion with the remainder of said first strip, said second strip having a length sufiicient to extend across the notch in said end portion when the strips are in one position.

3. Fowl suspension means comprising a hanging support, an angularly formed strip hingedly secured to said support and including an end portion having a notch extending into a side edge thereof, said notch being of a size to receive at least one leg of a fowl, and a second strip hingedly secured to said support below the first strip and slidably extending through said first strip at the Junction said end portion with the remainder modating sections intermediate said rectangular section and said V-shape section.

5. Fowl suspension apparatus comprising a frame including a substantially rectangular section at one end thereof, a section of V-shape at the opposite end thereof and oppositely extending wing sections intermediate said rectangular section and said V-shape section; a pair of leg grips disposed in said rectangular section; a head grip in said V-shape section, and grip means in each of said wing sections for holding the wings of a fowl in outstretched condition.

LENUS JASPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,372,595 Bouda Mar. 22, 1921 1,796,739 Williams Mar. 17, 1931 2,015,058 Bruce Sept. 24, 1935 2,152,082 Onorato et a1 Mar. 28, 1939 2,035,946 De Vout Mar. 31, 1936 

